Replaceable cleaning unit and handle therefor



March 15, 1949. o w z 2,464,509

REPLACEABLE CLEANING UNIT AND HANDLE THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov; 7, 1945 jievenzaz" .Ifzarzzeys March 15, 1949.

H, H. HORWITZ REPLACEABLE CLEANING UNIT AND HANDLE THEREFOR 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 7, 1945 r In veizzai" jfara/aflf/orwz Z2 Patented Mar. 15, 1949 i REPLACEABLE CLEANING UNIT AND HANDLE THEREFOR Harold H. Horwitz, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Cleancraft Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 7, 1945, Serial No. 627,162

8 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in cleaning element holders and elements therefor.

One purpose is to provide individual holders, including a handle portion, in which cleaning elements, including but not limited to brooms, brushes, mops, scouring devices and the like, can be removably and replaceably received and held.

Another purpose is to provide an improved brush or broom structure in which the brush or broom unit can be removed and replaced.

Another purpose is to provide an improved cleaning assembly in which a gripping member positively grips and retains whatever cleaning element or refill is inserted therein.

Another purpose is to provide an improved cleaning assembly in which a gripping member positively grips and retains whatever cleaning element or refill is inserted therein.

Another purpose is to provide an improved brush or broom including a handle at an angle to the brush or broom member.

Another purpose is to provide an improved cleaning element or refill particularly adapted for insertion in a gripping handle member.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate the invention more or less diagram- Figure l is a front elevation of a broom embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates the brook elements or refill proper;

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial front elevation of the structure of Figure 1 with parts broken away and parts in section;

Figure 5 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 6--6 of Figure 3;

Figure '1 is a section on the line 1-1 of Figure4;

Figure 8 is a partial end elevation with parts omitted, illustrating the handle portion in open and refill receiving position;

Figure 9 is a perspective of one part of the handle portion; and

Figure 10 is a perspective of a gripping portion.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, I generally indicates any suitable handle which may be of any suitable material. It may. for example be of.

matically in the accompanying drawings wheremetal tubing. I illustrate it as having a lower portion 2 slightly inclined to the rest of the handle whereby, when in the vertical position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, the upper part of the handle is somewhat inclined from the vertical, which provides ease in use, and causes a greater contact of the end of the broom with the fioor. I illustrate a broom member or refill 4 which in the drawings is illustrated as a broom formed of individual broom, straws or fibers 5. It is secured, at the upper end, by a plurality of compression members or flattened rings 6, which may be formed with waves or teeth, as indicated at l in Fig. 6, to increase the gripping elfect on the broom fibers. I illustrate two of the rings 6 and it will be noted that their contour is somewhat arcuate, when seen from the front, as 11-- lustrated for example in Figures 3 and 4.

In order to grip the broom or cleaning member I illustrate the following jaw structure. Two body members Ill, H are provided with transverse top walls I2 and side walls l3. The side walls I3 are provided with perforated ears or lugs I4 at their lower corners. It will be noted that the ears M are outwardly offset at one end of the unit and inwardly ofiset at the other, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby the units are reversible. The ears are pivoted together as at l5. It will be noted that each member also has a partly cylindrical upward projection is from the upper wall l2. It will be understood that the members I0, II are identical and interchangeable. However, the handle end portion 2 may be secured to one of the members and is shown as secured to the member l0 and partly surrounded by the sleeve portion l6 of the member ll]. When the members I0, I l are in the closed position, in which they are shown for example in Figure 7, a locking ring H, which is slidable on the handle I, may be dropped into the locking position in which it is shown in Fig. 7. It is shown as having a slightly flared bottom portion l8 and a knurled or roughened upper portion IQ, for convenience in actuation. The parts are preferably so proportioned that the locking ring I! will be frictionally held firmly in the locking position against unintended displacement, but can readily be displaced manually when the operator positively upwardly moves it.

Pivoted to the members l0, H are the identical and interchangeable jaw elements or clamp members 20, 2|. The jaw 2'0 is pivoted to ID as at 22. The jaw 2|. is pivoted to l l as at 23. The two jaw members are pivoted to each other as at 24, the pivots 24 connecting the inwardly extending top.

arm portions 25, each such arm portion having an ofiset terminal lug 26, as shown in Fig. 10. It will be understood that the lugs are so formed that the jaw portions are interchangeable. Each jaw portion also includes a back plate 2'! provided with indentations or grooves 28, which conform in shape and contour 'to the securing members 6 of the cleaner refill. Each jaw also has a toothed jaw member 29, adapted to grip the refill below the lowest of the compression or securing members 6. In use, the refill is upwardly thrust until the members 6 are aligned with and adapted to interpenetrate with the grooves or indentations 28 of the jaw plates 21. The jaw parts are then rotated into a locking position. When the two sleeves l6 abut, and are locked in place by the ring H, the toothed jaws 28 have been firmly thrust into the cleaning member 4, below the lowest support 6 and the refill is firmly held, and solidary with the handle structure until the user again raises. the ring l1 and moves the laws 10 and 1 and thus the jaws 20 and 2| to the release position.

It will be realized that, whereas, I have described "and illustrated apractical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings tobe taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my precise showing.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

I illustrate an efficient gripping handle device which is shown as used in connection with a broom or brush refill 4.. It will be understood, however, that it may-equally advantageously be employed to grip refills in the nature of brushes of varioussizes and shapes, mops, scouring devices and the like. It. is essential however that the cleaning or refill member be so formed as to include aportion which mayzreadily be gripped between the toothed jaws 2.9 and preferably also w-ith'a portion which interfits with the grooves or depressions 28. It will be understood for exampic that, where the contourof the securing members 16 is as shown-in-Figure-B, the grooves 28 are of similar'length-and similar contour, including either a slot deep enough to receive the bends -1 orhavingabottom conforming to the bends. It will be clear for example from Figs. 3 and 4 that the grooves or depressions 28 are somewhat arcuatel-y formed; to receive the armate securing members '6. The employment of the arcuate securing'members t provides an efficientspreadingof thebroom -refill 4, with-a downward divergence of the fibers or straws 5. As shown'in Fig. 2, the bottom end of the straw may be :formed, as-at 5a, to produce a crest or ridge 5b extending across the width .of the broom. Whereasthi-s is advantageous it will 'be understood that any desired tormationof broom, mopor cleaning member may be-empl-oyed.

Whereas I have emphasizedthe use of my invention with broom :or*cleaning members it will be understood that my-holdingdevice may be employed-in any situation where a removable and replaceable working member oia-ny 'kind is\employedl" It maybe employed for example with paihtbrushesbr swabs for either domestic or industrial use. It will be understood that the sizemay be widely-varied, my'invention being applicable equally well to'smallwhiskbrooms and to large broomsbrother-cleaning or operating de- 4 vices. It will be understood that where in the claims I employ the term cleaning insert I wish it to include any insert which may be employed either for cleaning or for painting, scouring, dusting or the like.

I claim:

1. In a cleaning assembly, a cleaning insert, a handle, a gripping member secured to the handle, a second gripping member, pivoted to the first gripping member, including an upper portion adapted to engage the handle, securing means for securing the gripping members in closed position,

a pair of jaws pivoted to each other at their upper ends and pivoted one to each said gripping member, at its lower end, the pivotal connections between the jaws and the gripping members being adjacent the pivotal connection between the gripping members whereby, when the gripping mem bers are in open position, the cleaning insert may be inserted between the gripping members and the gripping jaws.

2. In a cleaning assembly, a cleaning insert, a handle, a gripping member secured to the handle, a second gripping member, pivoted to the first gripping member, including an upper portion adapted to engage the handle, securing means for securing the gripping members-in closed position, a pair of jaws pivotedto each other at their upper ends and pivoted one to each said gripping member, at its lower end, the pivotal connections between the jaws and the gripping members being adjacent the pivotal connection between the gripping members whereby, when the gripping members are in open position, the cleaning insert may be inserted between the gripping members and the gripping. j aws,said gripping members being formed and adaptedwhen closed, to provide a housing portion about the upper end of the cleaning insert.

3. In a cleaning assembly, a cleaning insert, a handle, a gripping member secured to the handle, a second gripping member, pivoted to the first gripping member, including an upper portion adapted to engage the handle, securing means for securing the gripping members in closed position, a pair of jaws pivoted to each other at their upper ends and pivoted one to each said gripping member, at its lower end, the pivotal connections between the jaws and thegripping members being adjacent the pivotal connection between the gripping members whereby, when the gripping members are in open position, the cleaning insert may be inserted between the gripping members and the gripping jaws, said jaws having portions formed and adapted to conform to and interpene trate with the opposed surfaces of said cleaning insert.

4. In an operating assembly, an operating .insert, a handle, a gripping, member secured tothe handle, a. second gripping member movably secured to the first gripping. member, clamp members pivoted to each other and to said gripping members, and formed and adapted to receive said insert, said insert and said clamp members being provided with interpenetrating portions, and means for securing the gripping members in relation to each other, inlgripping. position, with the clamp members interpenetrating with opposed portions of the insert.

.5. In an operating assembly, an operating insert, a handle, a grippingmember secured to the handle, .a second gripping. member movably secured to the first grippinginember, clamp memmembers, -and formed and adapted to receive said insert, said insert and said clamp members being provided with interpenetrating portions, and means for securing the gripping members in relation to each other, in gripping position, with the clamp members interpenetrating with opposed portions of the insert, said clamp members including plate portions, having concavities formed therein, said insert having convex portions adapted to interpenetrate with the concavities of the aws.

6. In an operating assembly, a handle, a pair of clamp members pivoted to each other adjacent their upper ends and spaced apart at their lower ends, a pair of clamp actuating members pivoted together at their lower ends, one being pivoted to each clamp member at the lower end thereof, the pivotal connections between the clamp members and the actuating members, and between the actuating members themselves, being located at substantially the same level, and means for securing the upper ends of the actuating members together in relation to each other and to the handle, and for thereby locking the clamp members in gripping position, and an operating insert, the clamp members and actuating members being formed and adapted to receive said insert when the actuating members are moved to the open position.

7. In combination, a broom member comprising a plurality of generally parallel fibers, flattened clamp rings parallel to one another enclosing said fibers and holding them in working relationship, said rings being corrugated in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the fibers to form a plurality of zones of varying compression in the fibers, a pair of clamp members adapted to grip the fibers and enclose them and the holding rings, the clamp members having opposed serrated fiber engaging elements generally perpendicular to the axis of the fibers, the width of the serrations being diiferent from the width of the corrugations on the rings, whereby different zones of varying Number pressure are provided by the clamp members and the corrugated holding rings.

8. In combination, a broom member comprising a plurality of generally parallel fibers, fiattened clamp rings parallel to one another enclosing said fibers and holding them in working relationship, said rings being corrugated in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the fibers to form a plurality of zones of varying compression in the fibers, a pair of clamp members adapted to grip the fibers and enclose them and the holding rings, the clamp members having opposed serrated fiber engaging elements generally perpendicular to the axis of the fibers, the width of the serrations being difierent from the width of the corrugations on the rings, whereby difierent zones of varying pressure are provided by the clamp members and the corrugated holding rings, means on the clamp members for holding the rings against displacement in a direction parallel with the axis of the fibers.

HAROLD I-I. HORWITZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Miller June 13, 1865 Harroun Aug. 21, 1866 Fraley July 27, 1880 Sebring Mar. 10, 1885 Howard Oct. 30, 1888 Butenschon Jan. '7, 1890 Ryan July 1, 1890 Miltner Aug. 31, 1909 Schleioher Sept. 10, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland Feb. 28, 1937 Number 

